Refillable mescara applicator

ABSTRACT

Embodiments include a refillable mascara applicator. One embodiment includes a handle to receive a mascara cartridge having mascara. One embodiment also includes a valve that can be closed or opened in the handle to allow mascara to be selectively transported through the valve when the valve is opened. An embodiment also includes a hollow brush to receive the mascara transported through the valve and to release the mascara to bristles of the brush through a plurality of holes in the brush.

FIELD

The present description is in the field of mascara applicators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects will become apparent upon reading the following detaileddescription and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike references may indicate similar elements:

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a handle of a refillable mascaraapplicator and a top and bottom of the handle;

FIG. 2 depicts an inside of a handle of a refillable mascara applicatorand a mascara refill cartridge; and

FIG. 3 depicts several brushes that can be attached to a handle of arefillable mascara applicator;

FIG. 4 depicts a valve in an open position;

FIG. 5 depicts a valve in a closed position; and

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of a valve in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following is a detailed description of embodiments. The embodimentsare in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, theamount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipatedvariations of embodiments; but, on the contrary, the intention is tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe scope of the appended claims. The detailed descriptions below aredesigned to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skillin the art.

One embodiment is a refillable mascara applicator that comprises ahandle with an opening at a first end and a cavity to receive a mascararefill cartridge that carries mascara. The cartridge has a small openingat one end. The small opening is capable of being communicativelycoupled to a valve at a second end of the handle. At the second end ofthe handle, a rotating part rotates to open and close the valve so thatwhen the valve is open, mascara is to flow through the small opening,and through the open valve. The open valve is coupled to an interior ofa threaded part of the rotating part to provide mascara to a hollowbrush with small holes to release the mascara to bristles of the hollowbrush. The hollow brush is threaded interior to the hollow brush so thatthe hollow brush may be removably threaded onto the threaded part of therotating part.

Another embodiment is a method of refilling a mascara applicator withmascara. The method comprises receiving a first replaceable cartridgehaving a first color of mascara into a hollow handle with a valve nearan end. The method further includes moving a controlling part to causetransport of mascara from the first replaceable cartridge through thevalve to a brush.

Another embodiment is a refillable mascara applicator. The refillablemascara applicator includes a handle to receive a mascara cartridgehaving mascara. A valve can be closed or opened in the handle to allowmascara to be selectively transported through the valve when the valveis opened. The refillable mascara applicator also includes a hollowbrush to receive the mascara transported through the valve and torelease the mascara to bristles of the brush through a plurality ofholes in the brush.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a handle 1 of a refillable mascaraapplicator and a bottom part 2 and a top part 4 of the handle 1. Thehandle 1 may be made of plastic or metal or other suitable material. Inone embodiment, the top part 4 and the bottom part 2 have threads thatmatch threads of the handle 1, so that the top part 4 and the bottompart 2 may be screwed on or off. In one embodiment, the top part 4 isremovably attachable to the handle 1, and the bottom part 2 may also beremovably attachable. In one embodiment, when the top part is insertedor screwed into the handle, it forces the opposite end of the cartridgeagainst a valve 5. FIG. 1 also shows that the bottom part 2 has athreaded part 3 for receiving a threaded brush.

FIG. 2 depicts an inside of a handle 1 of a refillable mascaraapplicator and a mascara refill cartridge. In particular, the handle 1has a mount with the valve 5 against which the bottom part 2 may beseated. FIG. 2 also shows a mascara refill cartridge 6 which may beinserted into the handle 1 at the top end.

In one embodiment, the valve 5 has an opening that can be aligned withan opening of the bottom part 2 to enable mascara to flow through thevalve 5. In a particular embodiment, the opening of the valve 5 issemi-circular. An opening of the bottom part 2 may also be semi-circularso that when the bottom part is rotated, the opening of the valve 5 maybe aligned with the opening of the bottom part 2.

FIG. 3 depicts several brushes 7 that can be attached to a handle of arefillable mascara applicator. In FIG. 3, the bristles of the mascarabrushes are not shown for clarity. By rotation, a brush can be screwedonto the threaded part 3. Also, FIG. 3 shows that the brushes 7 haveopenings in the body that allow the release of mascara onto the bristlesof the mascara brush.

The refillable mascara applicator operates as follows. The user opensthe top 4 of the handle 1. A refill cartridge 6, with a small opening 8on one end is inserted into the handle with the opening 8 toward thebottom part 2 of the handle 1. The top 4 is replaced onto the handle 1.The bottom part 2 may be spring loaded and free to turn a portion of 360degrees or greater. In a particular embodiment, when the bottom part 2is turned one way, the valve 5 of the handle 1 is opened and mascaraflows out of the opening 8 through the valve 5. When the bottom part 2is turned the opposite way, the valve 5 is closed. In anotherembodiment, the bottom part 2 is a rotating part that rotates a firstamount in a first direction to open the valve 5, and rotates a secondamount in the first direction to close the valve 5. In anotherembodiment, the rotating part is rotated a first amount to open and thenclose the valve to provide a dose of mascara to the bristles of thehollow brush. Then the bristles of the brush may be applied to theeyelashes or eyebrows.

Therefore, one embodiment is a method of refilling a mascara applicatorwith mascara. The method comprises receiving a first replaceablecartridge having a first color of mascara into a hollow handle with avalve near an end. The method also comprises moving a controlling partto cause transport of mascara from the first replaceable cartridgethrough the valve to a brush. In one embodiment, moving the controllingpart comprises moving the controlling part through a cycle that releasesa controlled dose of mascara to the brush. In a particular embodiment,the first replaceable cartridge is replaced by a second replaceablecartridge, which may carry mascara of the same or a different color thanthe first replaceable cartridge.

Another embodiment is a mascara kit that includes a handle, at least onebrush, and at least two refill cartridges. Another embodiment is amascara kit that includes a plurality of brushes. Therefore, the handlethat receives a refill cartridge may be packaged with refill cartridgesand brushes. Also, refill cartridges and/or brushes may be packagedseparately.

FIG. 4 shows a valve in an open position and FIG. 5 shows the valve inthe closed position. When in an open position, the valve wings 40 and 42do not obstruct the openings 44. When in a closed position, the valvewings 40 and 42 obstruct openings 46. FIG. 6 shows a side view of thevalve with wings 40 and 42 in a closed position.

The present embodiments and some of their advantages have been describedin detail. It should be understood that various changes, substitutionsand alterations can be made herein without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims. An embodiment of theinvention may achieve multiple objectives, but not every embodimentfalling within the scope of the attached claims will achieve everyobjective. Moreover, the scope of the present application is notintended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process,machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and stepsdescribed in the specification. One of ordinary skill in the art willreadily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention thatprocesses, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means,methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed areequivalent to, and fall within the scope of, what is claimed.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps.

1. A refillable mascara applicator, comprising: a handle with an openingat a first end and a cavity to receive a mascara refill cartridge thatcarries mascara, the mascara refill cartridge having a small opening atone end, the small opening capable of being communicatively coupled to avalve at a second end of the handle; and at the second end of thehandle, a rotating part that rotates to open and close the valve so thatwhen the valve is open, mascara is to flow through the small opening,through the open valve, and through an interior of a threaded part ofthe rotating part to provide mascara to a hollow brush with small holesto release the mascara to bristles of the hollow brush, wherein thehollow brush is threaded interior to the hollow brush so that the hollowbrush may be removably threaded onto the threaded part of the rotatingpart.
 2. The refillable mascara applicator of claim 1, wherein thehandle is cylindrical.
 3. The refillable mascara applicator of claim 1,wherein the rotating part rotates a first amount in a first direction toopen the valve, and rotates a second amount in the first direction toclose the valve.
 4. The refillable mascara applicator of claim 1,wherein the rotating part is rotated a first amount to open and thenclose the valve to provide a dose of mascara to the bristles of thehollow brush.
 5. The refillable mascara applicator of claim 1, whereinthe rotating part rotates in a first direction to open the valve, androtates in an opposite direction to close the valve.
 6. The refillablemascara applicator of claim 1, wherein the rotating part has a secondthreaded part and an opening at the second end of the handle is threadedto receive the rotating part.
 7. The refillable mascara applicator ofclaim 1, further comprising a capping part that closes the opening atthe first end of the handle.
 8. The refillable mascara applicator ofclaim 1, wherein the capping part is threaded and the opening at thefirst end is threaded to receive the capping part.
 9. A method forrefilling a mascara applicator with mascara, comprising: receiving afirst replaceable cartridge having a first color of mascara into ahollow handle with a valve near an end; moving a controlling part tocause transport of mascara from the first replaceable cartridge throughthe valve to a brush.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein moving thecontrolling part comprises moving the controlling part through a cyclethat releases a controlled dose of mascara to the brush.
 11. The methodof claim 9, further comprising replacing the first replaceable cartridgewith a second replaceable cartridge.
 12. The method of claim 11, whereinthe second replaceable cartridge has a second color of mascara.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the brush is hollow and has a plurality ofholes to release mascara transported to the interior of the brush tobristles of the brush.
 14. A refillable mascara applicator, comprising:a handle to receive a mascara cartridge having mascara; a valve that canbe closed or opened in the handle to allow mascara to be selectivelytransported through the valve when the valve is opened; a hollow brushto receive the mascara transported through the valve and to release themascara to bristles of the brush through a plurality of holes in thebrush.
 15. The refillable mascara applicator of claim 14, wherein thevalve comprises a first opening that can mate with a second opening of amoving part that opens and closes the valve.
 16. The refillable mascaraapplicator of claim 15, wherein the first opening is semi-circular. 17.The refillable mascara applicator of claim 15, wherein the moving partrotates.
 18. The refillable mascara applicator of claim 14, wherein thehollow brush is replaceable by a second hollow brush.
 19. The refillablemascara applicator of claim 14, further comprising a mascara kit thatincludes at least one other mascara cartridge packaged with therefillable mascara applicator.
 20. The refillable mascara applicator ofclaim 14, further comprising a mascara kit that includes at least oneother hollow brush packaged with the refillable mascara applicator.